A demonstration is set to take place against the latest swingeing cuts at Wandsworth Council.

Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Union Council (BWTUC) and Wandsworth Labour Group are staging the rally ahead of the next full council meeting tomorrow night.

Councillors are expected to rubber stamp the axeing of 28 members of staff in a bid to slash £43m from its budget over the next 18 months.

Posts are being removed from the Children's Services Department and the leisure and culture division in the Environment and Community Services Department.

Earlier this year it was announced the council plan to cut 44 posts from housing, while two departmental director positions are also being slashed.

The opposition Labour group have also requested an amendment is made on proposals to raise charges for sports services, public events, waste management and environmental services by four per cent.

Councillors are expected to give the green light for the new charges to begin in January next year, with swimming pool fees to rise in February 2014.

The amendment said: "Wandsworth's record of keeping down other charges for local people is not so strong, with rents and service charges for tenants and leaseholders set at extremely high levels, and charges for many local services also set at high levels."

A final budget for next year, including details of the cuts, will be published in February, 2014.

The full council meeting is taking place in Wandsworth Town Hall on December 4 at 7.30pm.

 

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